There is some evidence patients are already going to emergency departments instead of their local doctor over concerns the proposed $7 co-payment will increase health care expenses, medical professionals have warned.

The state’s top scientist says fracking should be banned if the risk to human health can’t be known for sure.

Text messages and emails can be used to improve the eating habits of younger adults, according to researchers from the University of Western Australia.

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News on Health Professional Radio. Today is the 5th June 2014. Read by Rebecca Foster.

There is some evidence patients are already going to emergency departments instead of their local doctor over concerns the proposed $7 co-payment will increase health care expenses, medical professionals have warned.

Doctors at one Melbourne hospital told the ABC recorded its busiest day all year IN the emergency department the first weekend after the federal budget, the emergency department recorded its busiest day all year.

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In the week following the co-payment announcement, there was a 17 per cent increase in patients presenting at this particular Melbourne Hospital.

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Medicare figures show that in the lead-up to the announcement about the co-payment, there was a drop in standard GP visits.

The number of “consultation B” visits dropped from 7.4 million visits in April 2013 to 7.1 million this year.